Apparatus for mining submerged precious metals



G. o. SCHULZ 2,144,743

APPARATUS FOR MINING SUBMERGED PRECIOUS METALS Jan. 24, 1939.

Filed Oct 28, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Gusmv: 0. SCHULZ ATTORNE Jan. 24, 1939.

G. O. SCHULZ APPARATUS FOR MINING SUBMERGE-D PRECIOUS METALS Filed Oct. 28, 1935 ATTORNEY (7' Jan. 24, 1939. G. o SCHULZ 2,144,743

APPARATUS FOR MINING SUBMERGED PRECIOUS METALS 4 Sheets-Sheet.- 3

I ll-Iii!!!" 2 0 w 4 n w u 4 Z w M 1 1 @TETS o o/osm o o 9;? 0 0/0 0 o o 6 "WV, v 1 l [I]! v F H o dm 3 H- v Jan. 24, 1939. G. o. SCHQLZ APPARATUS FOR MINING SUBME RGE 'D PRECIOUS METALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed, Oct. 28, 1935 INVENTOR Gasmv 0. Sci-luLz ATTORN Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT FFECE APPARATUS FOR MINING SUBMERGEE) PRECIOUS METALS This invention relates to my application filed concurrently herewith, namely, a method for mining submerged precious metals.

My invention relates to precious metal recovery devices to be used in streams, waterways, or for placer mining where the precious metal is to be recovered from the submerged beds of the streams, waterways, bays, lakes, ponds or any other submerged placer deposit. The device may be used with equal facility whether the placer material is submerged in a natural or in an artificial state.

The invention is comprised primarily of a float, as a barge, having one or more prime movers disposed thereupon for operating winches, for operating water and air pumps and other instrumentalities. A hydraulic giant is provided having means for raising and lowering the same and having a delivery head designed and constructed for delivering a submerged discharge of Water under relatively high pressure with a pump for pumping the water to be discharged from the discharge head of the hydraulic giant. Means is provided for raising and lowering the hydraulic 'giant and for moving it laterally and transversely, thereby, directing the submerged discharge of the giant to excavate and convey submerged precious metal bearing material into a loading shovel. The shovel may have a plurality of spaced bars disposed upon its one side to provide means for classifying the material by limiting the size of the material that is to be admitted into the shovel. A hinged baffle plate may be disposed at each side of the shovel to facilitate the delivery of the material into the shovel. The shovel may be disposed adjacent to a concentrating receptacle disposed in the submerged portion of a tube elevator having one end not submerged and which may be telescopically adjustable. The loading shovel may be disposed adjacent to the concentrating receptacle to facilitate the loading of the tube with submerged material by gathering material conveyed to and into the shovel and being a means of conveyance of material to the concentrating receptacle in the tube. Means may be provided for releasing an elevating fluid such as air, steam or water under pressure through a port or ports in the base of the concentrating receptacle disposed in the tube and within the tube above the shovel for aerating, agitating, elevating and conveying material from the concentrating receptacle disposed in the lower end of the tube to a discharge head of the tube elevator and into a sluice box which may be connected with a concentrating device for concentrating the elevated material. The precious metal bearing material conveyed to the concentrating receptacle disposed in the tube elevator is agitated and concentrated in the concentrating receptacle and the precious metal bearing material concentrate is retained in the tube by means of gravity and recovered in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the tube. A concentrating receptacle is also disposed in the loading shovel where precious metal bearing material conveyed into the shovel is concentrated and the precious metal bearing material concentrate is retained in the shovel by means of gravity and recovered in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the shovel.

Means is also disposed upon the barge for raising and lowering the tube elevator and the loading shovel attached thereto and for moving the same longitudinally and transversely of the barge or other float.

Heretofore it has been a common practice to suspend a tube, or other hollow instrument and impart a strong suction to the lower end of the tube so as to suck submerged material from the to the tube so that through the combined action of suction and the movement imparted to the submerged precious metal bearing material, by the discharge of a hydraulic giant, the precious metal bearing material is conveyed into the shovel and material is conveyed from the loading shovel to the concentrating receptacle in the elevating tube. A recovery of part of the precious metal content of the precious metal bearing material is made in the sluice box and in the concentrating devices and instrumentalities that operate in concollecting of the precious metal bearing material concentrate recovered in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the lower end of the elevator tube and the removing of the precious metal bearing material concentrate recovered in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the loading shovel.

The principal purpose and object of my device is to recover precious metals from submerged precious metal bearing material by providing a comparatively low operating cost excavator, classifier, concentrator and elevator for the digging, conveying, classifying, concentrating and the recovering of the valuable concentrate while submerged and adjacent the submerged beds of streams, lakes, ponds or other submerged placer deposits.

Heretofore in devices of this kind nomeans has been provided for sweeping the bed rock and recovering the precious metals deposited in the depressions and crevices so characteristic of the submerged hard bed rock surfaces in the deep rivers or streams and other submerged placer deposits, and heretofore no means has been provided to overcome the gravitational action on the submerged particles of material of high specific gravity to be recovered, which I accomplish with my device by effecting a concentration and re covery of the values at or near the place of their deposit in the bottom of the river or stream and other submerged placer deposits.

Through the use of my new and improved device the precious metal bearing material deposited on the bed rock of streams or other submerged placer deposits may be readily conveyed, concentrated and the valuable concentrate recovered while submerged at or near the bed rock and a further concentration and recovery made at low cost by elevating and conveying material into a sluice box that is not submerged.

Another object' of my invention consists in so constructing the same that the cost of construction will be comparatively low and the device will have a long and useful life with practical freedom from operating annoyances.

A still further object of my invention consists in so constructing the device that it may be transported, erected and worked on placer deposits of comparatively small size at a profit and worked on placer ground that has heretofore been inaccessible and placer deposits that could not be worked eificiently on account of hard bed rock or deep water or both by dredges of the conventional type.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one of my devices shown in place and in condition for operation.

Fig. 1A is a perspective end view of a classifying bucket.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional end view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2. This view is taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the tube elevator or air lift cylinder. This view tube elevator.

is made to illustrate a preferred form of telescopic arrangement of the tube elevator.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the tube elevator or air lift cylinder and of the hydraulic giant and of the adjustable link disposed between the two. This view is taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partially sectional, side view of an air lift cylinder shown removed from the elevator assembly. This view is made to illustrate the secondary air connection disposed about and secured to the air lift cylinder. The secondary admission of air is provided and may be used where relatively shallow water is encountered in the recovering of precious metals from preciousmetal bearing material.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the supporting collar used in suspending a portion of or all of the tube elevatonassembly when jointing or disjointing one or more tubular sections of the elevator assembly. This viewis taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front view of the hydraulic head and of the protecting shovel that may be associated therewith.

. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the loading shovel and the lower section of the This drawing is made to illustrate theconcentrating receptacle disposed in .the loading shovel and the concentrating receptacle disposed in the lower end of the tube elevator.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

I have here shown my device as being mounted upon any suitable float as a barge l. A well is preferably disposed in the barge to facilitate the operating in the well of the tube elevator and .the hydraulic giant used in conjunction with the elevator. The sides of the well are disposed preferably parallel to the sides of the outside of the float. I preferably mount the tube elevator and the hydraulic giant so that they may be operated adjacent one end of the float.

I provide a frame 2 adjacent the well and upon which any suitable cross support 3 is mounted and upon which the supports of the supporting tackle may be arranged and disposed. The elevated material that has been classified is deposited in a sluice box 4. The inclination of the sluice box is such that the material deposited in the sluice box will flow therethrough by gravity action. Rifiles may be disposed in the bottom of the sluice box. The delivery end of the sluice box is arranged so as to deposit the tailings away from the float in order that freedom of movement of the float may be had in the operation of the device.

The material is preferably classified as to size before entering the loading shovel. The loading shovel 5 has a scoop inwardly extending from the lower end of the same. A lip 6 extends across the front end of the scoop and a plurality of spaced bars 1 are mounted across the front of the same. The lower ends of the bars are made to engage behind the lip 6 and within slots on the underside thereof and come to rest upon the top side of the bottom of the shovel. Each of the spaced bars I has an eye 8 disposed upon the underside of the bar to facilitate the placing of the locking pin or bolt 9 therethrough. The bolt engages the side walls. of the housing so that the removing of the bolt 9 permits the removal of any or all of the spaced bars 1. It will be noted in Fig. 9 that a recess 6A is disposed back of the lip 6 which forms a concentrating recess or rifile for materials passing into the loading receptacle over the lip 6. It will also be noted ,that the inclination BD which is upwardly inclined from the lip 6 creates a ledge 60 at the rear end of the inclined surface 6D to thereby create a second concentrating depression at the base of the elevator tube and in the loading receptacle. The bottom 63 is shown clearly below the upper end of the inclined surface 6D and at the base of the ledge 6C.

The purpose in providing the spaced bars is to prevent large boulders or rocks and also trash from entering into the tube elevator.

Aplate 8A is disposed beneath the spaced bars and adjacent the fastening cross bolt 9. The lower edge 83 of the plate is inclined away from the under side of the cross bars, the purpose of which is to force any material sliding up the bars out of engagement therewith when the same reaches the inclined surface 83 of the plate 8A.

Inorder to lessen the weight of the loading shovel, one .or more airpockets may be disposed within the base H! of the shovel. The air pockets may be entirely, or partialy, filled with water or the same may be voided of water to thereby permit the admission of air therein to lessen the weight of the shovel when submerged.

An air chest H is disposed within the bottom end of the tube elevator. An air compressor is disposed upon the float and connected with a suitable tank or reservoir and the air is conveyed from the compressor into a flexible tube l2 connecting the air receiver with the air chest so as to facilitate the delivery of the compressed air into the air chest I While I have described compressed air as the medium used to cause to elevate and convey material from the tube elevator, I do not Wish to be limited to the use of air, as any other compressible fluid may be used. Water subjected to pressure may also be used as the operating medium where slight changes are made in the release nozzle itself.

In the recovery of the precious metals from certain classes of materials such as clay or encrusted silts, the agitation of the materials through the action of the discharge of the giant and through the violent disturbances within the tube elevator itself tends to release the precious metals from the surrounding media and renders the recovery of the precious metals in the concentrating receptacles disposed in the loading shovel and in the tube elevator and also in the sluice box more easily of accomplishment. A discharge port or ports I3 may be disposed och trally of the tube elevator and the same be placed preferably longitudinally of the axis of the tube elevator. I preferably make the discharge port or ports l3 circular in cross section to facilitate the passage of a fluid subjected to pressure through the port or ports into the tube elevator.

The shovel 5 is independent of the tube elevator formed integral therewith and the tube elevator is cylindrical upon its upper end l4 and a doubly flanged bell-shaped joint I5 is fitted to the upper flanged end M of the elevator.

My device may be used with equal facility for recovering precious metal from precious metal bearing material, both in relatively shallow water and in relatively deep water. Where the device is being used in relatively shallow water the joint IS with the instrumentalities associated therewith may be used and when used-in this form I released through the port or ports I3, may be dispensed with. In intermediate depths between relatively deep and relatively shallow water, the two lifting instrumentalities may be required for eflicient operation. Then again where the device is being used in relatively deep water the joint it may be dispensed with and the aeration in the tube elevator accomplished through the port or ports l3. Whenever the working depth is such that efficient operation is obtained by introducing a lifting fluid through the port or ports I3, the fluid so introduced performs the desirable function of agitating the material in the concentrating receptacle in the lower end of the tube elevator and, consequently, facilitates the concentration of the precious metal bearing material in the concentrating receptacle.

An air receiving chest 28 is disposed in and about the joint l6. Air is admitted into the chest through the port 29 and the air is delivered to the port from an air supply tank, not here shown, through the tube 30.

A plurality of small ports 3| are disposed through the inner wall 3|A of the air chest 28 and the air flows through the ports 3| directly from the chest 28 into the interior 32 of the joint IS. The ports 3| may be so formed as to release the air moving at a relatively high velocity in an upward flow in order that the air passing through the ports 3| may impart an upward movement to the material being elevated through the tube elevator. This is best accomplished by having the walls of the ports 3| inclined upward from the chest 28 leading to the interior 32 of the joint I6.

To compensate for the difference in depth of water in which the device may be worked I may provide a telescopic joint 33 that is secured at its lower end to the tube elevator assembly. The telescopic joint is best illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the same is comprised of an exterior cylinder 36 and an inner cylinder 35 that is closely fitted to the inner wall of the exterior cylinder 36 at one or more points. The respective inner and outer cylinders are held together in working position by a plurality of supporting bars 31 that are secured. to the flange 34 of the inner cylinder 35. The supporting bars 31 each have a plurality of spaced holes 38 disposed therein and the lower end of the outer cylinder is flanged, as illustrated at 39, and the supporting bars 31 pass through suitable openings in the flange 39 and pins 40 are passed through the holes 38 and position the cylinders in desired placement to facilitate the lower end of the tube elevator being lowered to the desired depth at which the recovering of precious metal is to be effected.

A flanged discharge elbow 4| is secured to the flange 42 of the upper cylinder 36 and a plurality of eye bolts 43 pass through the respective flanges to which a bridle 44 may be attached. The bridle Flanged half bands 48 and 49 are secured together by any suitable fastening means, as bolts 50, so that the shaft ll of the joint [6 is journaled within the assembly of the half bands in order that the half bands when secured together can be easily rotated about the shaft H. The shaft I1 may be disposed in any tubular section of the tube elevator that will facilitate the operation of the hydraulic giant and the rotation of the giant about the shaft. A boss 5| outwardly extends from one side of the half band 48. A shaft 53 is journaled within the boss 5| and extends out from each side of the boss. A bifurcated link 52 is fixedly secured to each end of the shaft 53. A strut is formed by the bifurcated link 52 and the bifurcated link 54 and the bifurcated links 52 and 54 may be spaced apart relative to each other by connecting plates 55 and 56. Connecting plates 55 and 56 are secured to the respective bifurcated links 52 and 54 by suitable connecting bolts 57.

The supporting collar for the tube elevator is preferably made .as illustrated in Fig. 7 and is comprised of two half sections 20 and 2i. The collar is supported by a pair of links secured to rods 22 and 23. The rods 22 and 23 are journaled within the half sections at one end of the collar and at the other end of the collar the half sections have slots 24 and 25 disposed therein that facilitate the half sections of the collar being clamped about the tube elevator. Half circular recesses 26 and 21 are disposed within the half sections of the supporting collar to cause the same to fit the cylindrical portions of the tube elevator just below the flanges provided for the purpose of the supporting collar and disposed adjacent the upper ends of the tubular sections of the tube elevator that are disposed below the joint 33 in the tube elevator assembly.

A hydraulic giant 58 is provided for digging and conveying submerged placer material to be classified as to size, concentrated and the placer material concentrate recovered, and part of the placer material elevated into the sluice box 4. The discharge end of the hydraulic giant is preferably made as illustrated in Fig. 8 in which the orifice of the nozzle 59 is preferably made as having parallel sides that are connected together by half circular end sections, as illustrated in Fig. 8. In conveying some classes of material it may be preferable to secure a shovel 68 to the lower end of the giant and adjacent the discharge nozzle and the shovel 68 may have a plurality of spaced teeth 6| disposed upon its lower end to facilitate the same being used in crowding material toward the loading shovel 5 in a sweeping like action to thereby sweep the particles of material of high specific gravity into the loading shovel.

The body of the hydraulic giant 58 is hingedly supported betweenthe jaws 62 and 63 of the bifur cated link 54, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Water is supplied to the giant from a pump disposed upon the float, or from other sources of water supply that will deliver the water in the required amount and of the desired pressure through a suitable hose connection 64.

The hydraulic giant has pintle shafts 65 and 66 that outwardly extend from opposite sides of the giant. These pintle shafts are journaled within the jaws 82 and 63 of the bifurcated link 54. A pair of levers 61A and 58A have bifurcated ends journaled about the pintle shafts. These lever arms extend upwardly for a substantial distance in order that the operator standing upon a suitable platform, provided for that purpose, may raise and lower and otherwise operate the hydraulic gian t in a swinging motion through the manipulation of the levers G'lAand 68A. Ratchet wheels 69are fixedly-secured to the pintle shafts 85 and and the ends 18 of the levers 61A and 68A extend through the bifurcated members 81- furcated link 54 to prevent extensive rotation of the giant about the pintle shafts 65 and 68. Baffle plates H and 12 are mounted on the loading shovel and the same outwardly extend from each side of the loading shovel and the hydraulic giant is manipulated within the working area so that the baflle plates will lead the material being conveyed by the discharge from the hydraulic giant into the loading shovel.

A link 13A is hingedly secured to a support 14. The support 14 is slidable relative to the supporting shaft I5 that is mounted upon the float and a receiving notch 16 is disposed within the link "A. The notch disposed within the link is positioned to engage the operating lever 68A and when for.

any reason the operator of the giant wishes to leave the work the link 13A is swung so that the notch 16 engages the lever 68A at which time the locking latch I1 is closed to fixedly position the operating lever within the notch and within the link.

The tube elevator and the loading shovel attached thereto are suspended from lines. The supporting line passes about a sheave block 13 and the sheave block is mounted upon a trolley '18. The trolley 16 may be moved-longitudinally of the track 18 by lines and 8| that lead from either side of the trolley. The lines 80 and 8| are trained respectively about suitable sheave blocks and lead to winding drums 82 and 83 so that the tube elevator may be moved and locked in place by the manipulation of the respective drums 82 and 83 to which the lines 80 and BI are attached.

The hydraulic giant assembly is suspended from a counterweighted line 84 and the counterweighted line passes around a sheave block 85 and the sheave block 85 is mounted upon a trolley 86. The trolley 86 runs upon a suitable track 81 and the trolley may be moved longitudinally of the track by suitable manipulating lines and winding 'drumsas described for the moving of the tube elevator and the instrumentalities that are moved by the lines 88 and 8|.

The removing of the concentrate that is recovered in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the loading shovel and the removal ofthe concentrate recovered in the concentrating receptacle disposed'in the lower end of the tube elevator and to joint or disjoint one or more tubular sections of the tube elevator to compensate for the difference in depth of water in which the device is to be worked is accomplished in the following manner. The top tubular section or upper portion of the tube elevator may be suspended from the bridle 44. The lower end of the. tube elevator and the loading shovel attached thereto may be suspended by being engaged within the cut-out portions 26 and 21 of the sections 20 and 2| of the supporting collar assembly that is suspended from the bars 88. The bars 88 are secured to their respective trolleys 89 that have suitable tracks provided therefor, and the trolleys 89 may be manipulated by any suitable means such as described for the manipulation of the trolley 16. U-clamps 8'! are placed about the tube.

supporting collar sections and 2| after the sections 20 and 2| have been closed about the top tubular section in the assembly of the lower end of the tube elevator in order to lock that portion of the elevator within the supporting collar assembly.

In the operation of a device of this kind large boulders are often encountered in the submerged beds of streams, lakes, bays, the shore line of the ocean and other submerged placer deposits, and to efliciently carry on the operation it is necessary to remove these from time to time.

I provide a classifying as to size lifting frame 92 that is suspended from any suitable chain block 93 and the boulders are manipulated into the frame 92 and are lifted through the operation of the chain block, a power hoist or other suitable lifting means. The chain block is secured to a trolley 94 and the frame assembly and the boulder or boulders may then be moved along the track 95 and the boulder or boulders dumped from the float and away from the operating area in which the mining is being carried on. I may provide a chute 94A into which the boulder or boulders may be dumped that will carry the boulder or boulders clear of the working area in which the device is being worked. Such other material that is classified as to size and will not pass through the openings provided between the bars I disposed in the entrance to the loading shovel may also be manipulated into the frame 92 and conveyed away from the working area of the device.

Spuds of the usual type may be mounted upon the barge or float for precisely positioning the same relative to the area in which the same is to be worked by the tube elevator and the hydraulic giant. 7

It may be found necessary in some character i of material to provide one or more concentrators as upon the float and through which the materials of high specific gravity passing through the sluice box may be recovered or stored.

I illustrate a classifying as to size bucket in Fig. 1A in which the primary portion of the bucket is comprised of spaced bars 91. The spaced bars 91 are secured on their one end to the cross bar 98 of the frame. The oppositely disposed ends of the cross bars are secured to the jaws 99 of the bucket. The purpose of this classifying as to size bucket is to facilitate the removing of only the large boulders from the submerged placer material to, thereby, leave the smaller material that can be conveyed into the loading shovel by the submerged discharge of the hydraulic giant in the manner heretofore described.

While I have described means for creating a suction in the tube elevator by releasing a jet of water, air, or steam, or a combination of any two or all of them that may be used to cause to elevate and convey material from the tube or elevator, I do not wish to be limited to the use of said means for creating a suction in the elevating I may create a suction in the tube elevator by means of a suction pump to cause to elevate and convey material from the tube, or I may create a suction in the tube elevator by means of a suction pump in combination with a jet of water or that of a compressible fluid to cause to elevate and convey material from the tube.

When I use a suction pump to create a suction in the tube elevator to cause to elevate and convey material from the tube, I may not use the elevating fluid or fluids, such as a jet of water or air emitted within the tube, and the means to introduce the said fluid or fluids into the tube, and I may also not use the telescopic arrangement at the discharge end of the elevator tube. The tube elevator having no telescopic means of adjustment may have the discharge end thereof connected to the suction pump by any suitable means, such as a flexible tube through which the material being elevated may be conveyed into the suction pump, and by any suitable means the material may be conveyed from the suction pump into the sluice box.

I have found that a violent agitation of the placer material is helpful in effecting the liberation of the precious metal from the placer material being treated and the emitting of an elevating fluid or fluids under pressure within the tube aids in breaking up the mass being treated and the agitation also aids in polishing the particles of material of high specific gravity so as to remove the coating formed upon the particles of precious metals.

I convey submerged material from the loading shovel by means of a fluid such as water under pressure, and the particles of material of high specific gravity, of the submerged placer material conveyed into the loading shovel, that are retained by means of gravity in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the shovel, or any of the submerged placer material that is not subject to being conveyed from the shovel by means of the fluid under pressure, is, consequently, the concentrate of the submerged placer material conveyed into the shovel, and, thus, by effecting a concentration of the submerged placer material in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the shovel, and, whereas, the placer material concentrate is not subject to being conveyed from the shovel by means of the fluid under pressure, a recovery of the placer material concentrate is accomplished in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the loading shovel. The particles of material of high specific gravity, of the submerged placer material conveyed tothe concentrating receptacle disposed in the tube elevator, that are retained by means of gravity in the concentrating receptacle in the tube, or any of the submerged placer material that is not subject to being elevated and conveyed from the tube by means of suction created in the tube causing to elevate and convey material from the tube, is, consequently, the concentrate of the submerged placer material conveyed to the concentrating receptacle in the tube, and, thus, by effecting a concentration of the submerged placer material conveyed to the concentrating receptacle in the tube, and, whereas, the placer material concentrate is not subject to being elevated and conveyed from the tube by means of suction created in the tube causing to elevate and convey material from the tube, a recovery of the placer material concentrate is accomplished in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the tube.

In mining submerged placer material containing particles of material of high specific gravity by conveying the placer material into the loading shovel and conveying material from the shovel by means of a fluid under pressure, I recover much of the material of high specific gravity in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the loading shovel, and by conveying submerged placer material containing particles of material of high specific gravity to the concentrating receptacle disposed in the tube elevator and elevating and conveying material from the tube by means of suction created in the tube causing to elevate and convey material from the tube, I recover much of the material of high specific gravity in the concentrating receptacle disposed in the tube.

I have mentioned the use of water when subjected to pressure and emitted in a jet as a fluid to convey submerged placer material to the placer material elevator, but I do not wish to be limited to the use of water, as other fluids when subjected to pressure and emitted in a jet may be used for this purpose.

Although my invention. is principally adapted to the mining of precious metals from submerged placer material, I do not wish to be limited to the mining of precious metals, as other valuable minerals and also precious stones that are found in placer material may be mined by my new and improved apparatus.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with a float, an operating well disposed at one end of the float, a supporting structure disposed on the float and above the operating well, a plurality of trolley tracks dis posed upon the supporting structure, a loading shovel suspended from the supporting structure so that placer material may be conveyed into the shovel while the placer material is submerged, a bafile plate disposed at each side of the entry of the shovel and positioned to conduct submerged placer material into the shovel, classifying bars spaced apart and disposed at the entry to the shovel, a lip extending across the entrance side of the shovel and upwardly extending to form a protection for the lower ends of the spaced bars, a submerged concentrating receptacle disposed in the shovel, means for predetermining the weight of the shovel when submerged, a hy draulic giant assembly in mobile suspension and in working spaced relation with the shovel for conveying submerged placer material into the shovel, means for counterbalancing weight of the giant assembly in mobile suspension, a tube elevator disposed adjacent to and above the shovel so that the loading end of the tube is submerged and the discharge end is not submerged, and means for conveying material from the shovel into the tube and elevating and conveying material from the tube.

2. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant, means for maintaining the giant in working spaced relation with the tube so that the giant may be rotated about the tube in order to convey submerged placer material into the tube, and means to elevate and convey material from the tube.

3. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a loading shovel so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the shovel while the placer material is submerged, means for emitting a fluid in a jet so that the fluid jet rial into the shovel, a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, means to convey material from the shovel into the tube, means to elevate and convey material from the tube, and'means to disjoint the tube into tubular sections and elevate the sections independently.

4. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, means for emitting a fluid in a jet so that the fluid jet is submerged to convey submerged placer material into the tube, means to concentrate submerged placer material conveyed into the tube and recover the placer material concentrate in the tube, means to elevate and convey from the tube the material other than the placer material concentrate recovered in the tube, and means to disjoint the tube into tubular sections and elevate the sections independently.

5. In a device of the class described, in com.- bination, a loading shovel so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the shovel while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant having the discharge submerged to convey submerged placer material into the shovel, means for suspending the giant in working position, operating levers for imparting a swinging action to the giant, means for locking the operating levers and the giant in working placement, elevating and conveying instrumentalitles secured to the shovel for elevating and conveying material from the shovel, and means for maintaining the shovel and the giant in spaced working relationship.

6. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant assembly in mobile suspension and in working spaced relation with the tube to convey submerged placer material into the tube, means for counterbalancing weight of the giant assembly in mobile suspension, and means to elevate and convey material from the tube.

'7. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant discharging so that the discharge is submerged, means to rotate the giant about the tube to convey submerged placer material into the tube, means to concentrate submerged placer material conveyed into the tube and recover the placer material concentrate in the tube, and means to elevate and convey from the tube the material other than the placer material concentrate recovered in the tube.

8. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant discharging so that the discharge is submerged, means to raise and simultaneously rotate the giant about the tube to convey submerged placer material into the tube, and means to elevate and convey material from the tube.

9. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant discharging so that the discharge is submerged, means to lower and simultaneously ro tate the giant about the tube to convey submerged placer material into the tube, and means to elevate and convey material from the tube.

10. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant discharging so that the discharge is submerged, means to actuate the nozzle of the giant to and fro and simultaneously rotate the giant about the tube to convey submerged placer material into the tube, and means to elevate and convey material from the tube.

11. In a precious metal mining device, the combination of a tube elevator so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the tube while the placer material is submerged, a hydraulic giant discharging so that the discharge is submerged, means to rotate the giant about the tube to convey submerged placer material into the tube, and means to elevate and convey material from the tube.

12. In a placer mining device, the combination of a placer material elevator having a loading receptacle disposed at its lower end and in communication therewith and so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the loading receptacle While the placer material is submerged, a conduit conveying a fluid that is subjected to pressure and emitting the fluid in a jet, means for maintaining the conduit in. Working spaced relation with the elevator so that the conduit may be rotated about the elevator in order to convey submerged placer material into the loading receptacle, and means to elevate and convey material from the loading receptacle.

13. In a placer mining device, the combination of a placer material elevator having a loading receptacle so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the loading receptacle while the placer material is submerged, a tube conveying a fluid subjected to pressure and emitting the fluid in a jet, means for maintaining the tube in working spaced relation with the elevator so that the discharge end of the tube may be actuated to and fro and simultaneously rotated about the elevator in order to convey submerged placer ma terial into the loading receptacle, and means to elevate and convey material from the loading receptacle.

14. In a placer mining device, the combination of a placer material elevator having a loading receptacle so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the loading receptacle while the placer material is submerged, means conveying a fluid subjected to pressure and emitting the fluid in a jet, means to rotate the jet about the elevator in order to convey submerged placer material into the loading receptacle, and means to elevate and convey material from the loading receptacle.

15. In a placer mining device, the combination of a placer material elevator having a loading receptacle so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the loading receptacle while the placer material is submerged, means conveying a fluid subjected to pressure and emitting the fluid in a jet, means to actuate the jet to and fro and simultaneously rotate the jet about the elevator in order to convey submerged placer material into the loading receptacle, and means to elevate and convey material from the loading receptacle.

16. In a placer mining device, the combination of a placer material elevator having a loading receptacle so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the loading receptacle while the placer material is submerged, means conveying a fluid subjected to pressure and emitting the fluid in a jet, means to raise and lower and simultaneously rotate the jet about the elevator in order to convey submerged placer material into the loading receptacle, and means to elevate and convey material from the loading receptacle.

1'7. In a placer mining device, the combination of a placer material elevator having a loading receptacle so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the loading receptacle while the placer material is submerged, a conduit conveying a fluid subjected to pressure and emitting the fluid in a jet, means for maintaining the conduit in mobile suspension and in working spaced relation with the elevator to convey submerged placer material into the loading receptacle, means for counterbalancing weight of the conduit in mobile suspension, and means to elevate and convey material from the loading receptacle.

18. In a placer mining device, the combination of a tube elevator having a loading receptacle so disposed that placer material may be conveyed into the loading receptacle while the placer material is submerged, means to convey submerged placer material into the loading receptacle, means to elevate and convey material from the loading receptacle, and means to disjoint the tube into tubular sections and elevate the sections independently.

GUSTAV O. SCHULZ. 

